When I Lost My Emotions, He Lost Me Forever

Chapter 4

Elara came to in the sharp scent of disinfectant.

Her body felt like it had been crushed, every joint aching with a dull, relentless pain.

The nurse's tone was brisk. "Is your family here? Who's handling the bill?"

Elara's lips were dry, and her throat was completely ruined. She could only stare at the ceiling in silence.

Family? What family did she have left?

Her mother had been driven to death by her father's mistress, with her father standing by.

Her husband had chosen the mistress's daughter, and her son had accepted her without hesitation.

In this world, who was left for her to rely on?

"The bill's been taken care of."

A deep, familiar male voice came from the doorway.

Elara turned her head sharply.

Sebastian stood there, backlit, his tall figure as distant and imposing as ever.

The nurse glanced at him, her expression shifting, then quickly excused herself, and left.

Sebastian stepped into the room but stopped well short of the bed, keeping a clear distance.

"Hello. Since the accident happened outside my home, I will cover your medical expenses."

The words sounded polite, but the distance in them was unmistakable.

Elara closed her eyes and turned her face away.

A faint crease formed between Sebastian's brows, but he did not say anything further.

Just then, the door opened slightly, and Lucas peeked inside.

When he saw Elara awake, he paused. Something flickered across his face before it settled into deliberate indifference.

"Dad, Grandma and Grandpa are here. Mom says she misses you."

His voice was light, almost cheerful, yet every word cut into Elara.

He did not look at her again, as if she were nothing worth noticing.

Sebastian gave a quiet acknowledgment, turned, and left without hesitation.

Lucas followed immediately, never once glancing back, as if she were just a stranger.

Silence returned to the room.

Elara stared at the closed door, her eyes filled with quiet grief.

She did not know how much time had passed before the door opened again.

This time, it was Vivienne.

Dressed in a tailored suit, flawless from head to toe, she looked like she belonged to an entirely different world than the frail figure on the hospital bed.

She walked closer and lowered her voice. "Who would have thought you were this hard to kill. After everything, you still made it back."

Elara's pupils tightened as she looked at her, guarded.

Unbothered, Vivienne took out her phone and played a recording.

"Dad... is that... homeless woman really Mom? Why did she have to come back?"

The child's voice was one Elara knew too well.

But hearing it now felt like something tearing through her chest.

"Why couldn't she just stay gone? If she comes back, will Mom leave? My friends will laugh at me if they find out my mom looks like that."

Then came Sebastian's voice, calm and steady. "Lucas, don't think too much about it. I'm with Vivienne now. I stopped loving your mom a long time ago."

"Then why did you send her to the hospital?"

"Lucas, no matter what, she is your mother. I couldn't just leave her there."

"I... I don't want her to die... I just don't want Vivienne to leave..."

"Don't worry. Once someone has been missing for four years, they can be declared legally dead. There's only a month left. When the time comes, we'll handle the paperwork and make arrangements for her."

The recording ended.

Vivienne looked at Elara, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

"Did you hear that? Not just Sebastian. Even your own son wishes you had never come back. Right now, you are the one who does not belong."